Irish charity worker receives Oireachtas Human Dignity Award

Ronan Scully (centre) with Senator Rónán Mullen and Carol Nolan TD

One of Ireland's best-known charity fundraisers was honoured this week on the double for his remarkable career in service of others. Galway-based Ronan Scully who works with NGO - Self Help Africa - was presented with the annual Oireachtas Human Dignity Award at a ceremony in Leinster House, just weeks after University College Galway had awarded him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his outstanding humanitarian work.

The award is presented by the Oireachtas Human Dignity Group to a person or group whose commitment to the promotion of human dignity is exemplary. This is the sixth award to be presented by the Group.

From 1992 until 2010 Ronan Scully worked with GOAL before joining Self Help Africa, for which he is now the Western Regional Representative. While with GOAL he worked in Calcutta (Kolkata) in India, as well as in Nepal, Ethiopia and Angola. He also spent a number of years working with and supporting Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity in their work in Romania, India and Ireland.

Over the years, Ronan has fundraised tirelessly for local and international charities. He is a founding member of the Maynooth Charity Cycle which has fundraised €2m for Irish children's charities. In 2013, he played an important role in founding WorldWise Global Schools - Development Education in which Self Help Africa plays a key role along with Concern Worldwide and The City of Dublin Education and Training Board with funding from Irish Aid.

Ronan was sent by Self Help Africa to Ukraine earlier this year to assist the humanitarian situation caused by the Russian invasion in February 2022. He has also worked in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda this year.

He has received numerous awards for his community, voluntary and humanitarian contribution, including: Offaly Sports Star 1988; Galway Person of the Year 1994; Irish Young Person of the Year 1997; Galway Mayoral Award 2004; Offaly Person of the Year 2011; Civic Reception from the Mayor of Galway 2016; Honorary Doctorate of Laws from University of Galway 2022.

Independent Senator, Rónán Mullen, who proposed Mr Scully for the Award, described him as "a person of energy, enthusiasm, faith and hope, dedicated to improving people's lives in the toughest parts of the world. Ronan Scully is also known for his sporting and cultural contribution. He has been Offaly Sportsperson of the Year, was a leader on RTÉ's Operation Transformation, has authored two books and writes a weekly column for three regional newspapers. In all he does, he motivates and helps others to improve their situation by pointing to what is important in life and helping them to reach for that, as he does himself. In that sense Ronan is a 'renaissance man'."

The award was presented by Senator Mark Daly, Chairman of the Seanad, at a ceremony in Leinster House and was attended by members of Ronan Scully's family, representatives of Self Help Africa, TDs and Senators.

Previous recipients of the Human Dignity Award were Sr Consilio Fitzgerald of Cuan Mhuire; Barney Curley, founder of Direct Aid For Africa; Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, founder of Mary's Meals; Gina Heraty of Westport who has devoted her life to Our Little Brothers and Sisters Orphanage in Haiti, and Br Kevin Crowley of the Capuchin Day Centre that provides food and support to homeless people in Dublin.

The Oireachtas Life and Dignity Group was established to promote discussion in Leinster House about the importance of respecting human dignity at all stages of life. Its mission statement says: "Believing in the equal dignity of all human beings and stressing the continuum of human life, the Oireachtas Human Dignity Group provides a forum for Members to discuss and inform themselves on issues relating to the most fundamental human right, the right to life."

Matt Moran writes about faith, social and international development issues. He recently launched his second book "The Theology of Integral Human Development: the role of faith in international development and public affairs" and is working on another book - "The Cultural Colonisation of Africa by the West".